Page 101 of Beyond the Darkness

Applause erupted.

“The Astor brothers are responsible for a lot of hurt and pain, which has affected everyone here in some form or fashion,” Kage said, pausing to stare at Axel. “But we, a diverse group of paranormal leaders, stuck together and handled the problem. And now? We will divide up the spoils between us.”

Hudson grinned at how loud the cheering was. He couldn’t have said it better himself.

“I’m sure there are still pockets of hunters out there, but we made a huge dent in this organization. Also, my hacker is currently freezing all of the company’s assets, which will be splitbetween the less financially secure among us so they have the means to bid also.”

Axel smiled.

“So, let’s take one more tour of these tunnels and make sure they’re completely cleared out,” Kage said.

As they descended into the dimly lit tunnels beneath the city, the group moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. It took the rest of the day to explore the tunnels, but Hudson was satisfied that no weapons were left behind or hunters were still hiding within the depths.

As they returned to the bookstore, Hudson could privately admit to himself that he much preferred the skies to being under the earth. If he never laid eyes on another tunnel again, it’d be too soon.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN – CONNIE

SEVERAL DAYS had passed since Connie’s parents left for their court. They had only been gone for a short time, yet he already missed them.

However, there was plenty of work to keep him occupied. The construction on their master bedroom and bath was finally complete—the walls were freshly painted, and the hardwood floors gleamed. The new furniture and decor had arrived and been added.

Which was a good thing, since the king of the gargoyles grew increasingly restless as he waited for Kayden and his construction crews to arrive.

Their bedroom now reflected all three of their unique tastes, blending to create a harmonious space. Kit was overjoyed with the addition of the new makeup area, tears of happiness streaming down his cheeks when he saw it. Hudson and Connie were initially horrified by his reaction until they saw the genuine joy in his eyes.

As for Connie’s new place for his hoard, it was perfection too, and he was also tempted to shed a tear or two.

A thrill of excitement rippled through his dragon, causing him to rumble happily. He gazed upon the entrance of the underground vault, envisioning the glimmer and shine his hoard would bring to its dark depths. The thought alone stirred fierce pride and satisfaction in him.

Hudson clapped Connie on the shoulder. “Well? What do you think?”

“It’s perfect. I mean, how could it be anything but perfect? You did this for me. Besides, it’s twice as big as the one I had before.”

“That means you’ll just have to work harder to fill it up,” Hudson joked.

“Of that I have no doubt,” Kit said, looping his arm around Connie’s waist. “But in the meantime, shall we get you moved in? Or is that something your dragon only wants you to do? I guess what I’m asking is, can we help? Does he want our help?”

Connie checked in with his dragon, who was completely unconcerned about Hudson and Connie helping. In fact, he was fine with it since it would get his treasures secured quicker. “He’s all for it.”

“Then let’s get you moved.”

With his mates’ help, Connie began the process of moving his hoard. Each step was slow and meticulous, as Connie’s attention was constantly drawn to the beautiful and valuable pieces of artwork that he’d collected over the years.

But every time he paused to share a special item with Kit or Hudson, his mates’ eyes lit up with genuine interest and admiration. The process was long and exhausting, but seeing their joy at each new discovery made it all worth it for Connie.

Together, the three of them carefully transported each piece to its new display spot, creating a dazzling showcase of Connie’s treasures. As he placed the last piece of art on a shelf, a smile spread across his face.

He ran his hand along the smooth shelf, feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction. This new addition was more than just space—it was his own personal retreat, where he could escape from the chaos of everyday life.

But there had been one thing that had been on his mind lately—and that was the tattoos Kit had mentioned in passing. Connie had always been fascinated by tattoos, admiring them from afar but never caring enough to go to the trouble to get one.

And it would be trouble, because they’d have to first find a witch they could trust to spell the ink. That in itself was a hurdle. Then both he and Hudson would have to keep their dragons calm while Kit was inked. Because Gaura help them all if Kit displayed a hint of pain.

Yeah.

His thoughts immediately turned to Susan, a member of Kage’s clan and someone they undoubtedly trusted. She was a magic user, which was just another name for an archmage, mage, magus, spellcaster, enchanter/enchantress, sorcerer/sorceress, warlock, witch, or wizard.

Basically, it was someone who used or practiced magic derived from supernatural, occult, or arcane sources. So she definitely had the capability to spell ink for them. If she was willing, she’d be perfect.

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